Anne S. Purdy, 85; Wrote Tale of Alaska

Anne S. Purdy, author of “Tisha,” an autobiographical tale about a young woman teaching in rural Alaska, died Wednesday in Dot Lake, Alaska. She was 85.

Mrs. Purdy’s 1976 novel was based on her years as a teacher for the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. She collaborated with Robert Specht on the book, which has sold millions of copies and has been printed in five languages.